Method of an annular-strip rolling mill for rolling out an endless strip from a cast ring

ABSTRACT

A strip rolling mill apparatus as well as a method is provided for rolling out an endless strip from a cast ring which may be produced by casting an end, continuous casting or centrifugal casting. In this method of rolling an endless strip from a cast ring, the cast ring in one embodiment of the invention is vertically on end while being rolled out to the strip. The annular-strip rolling mill consists basically of at least one pair of live rolls and one pair of drawing rolls which are displaceable by a drawing carriage. The live rolls and the drawing rolls, with pertaining brackets therefor, are disposed vertically on end and supported. A roll table, spherical table or the like which extends over the range of displacement of the drawing rolls is provided for the support of the ring or strip being rolled.

United States Patent Hox et al.

54] METHOD OF AN ANNULAR-STRIP ROLLING MILL FOR ROLLING OUT AN ENDLESS STRIP FROM A CAST RING Jan. 9, 1973 2,690,204 9/1954 Leskiewicz et al. ..72/87 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst Attorney-Walter G. Finch [76] Inventors: Hans Werner Hox, Weyerstr. 2; 57 ABSTRACT Werner Bechem, Wevelinghovener 7, both of Cologne, Germany A strip rolling m ll apparatus as well as a method 18 provided for rollmg out an endless strip from a cast Filed! p 1970 ring which may be produced by casting an end, continuous casting or centrifugal casting. In this method 1 7 [2 1 Appl No 4372 of rolling an endless strip from a cast ring, the cast ring in one embodiment of the invention is vertically [52] U.S. Cl ..72/111, 72/115 on end while being rolled out to the strip. [51] Int. Cl. ..B2ld 19/14 Th e annular-strip rolling mill consists basically Of at [58] Field of Search 1 15 least one pair of live rolls and one pair of drawing rolls which are displaceable by a drawing carriage. The live [56] References Cited rolls and the drawing rolls, with pertaining brackets therefor are disposed vertically on end and supported. NITED TATES PATENT U s S A roll table, spherical table or the like which extends 2,035,598 3/1936 Eckfeldtet al. ..72/87 over the range of displacement of the drawing rolls is 2,925,003 2/1960 McMullen et al. ..72/87 provided for the support of the ring or strip being 32,385 glrych ..glz/gg mum l rotnes.... 1 2,060,179 11/1936 Davies ..72/87 7 Claims,6 Drawing Figures m T T E 1:11;

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H TTDRNG) METHOD OF AN ANNULAR-STRIP ROLLING MILL FOR ROLLING OUT AN ENDLESS STRIP FROM A CAST RING This invention relates generally to metal processing apparatus, and more particularly to an annular-strip rolling mill for rolling out an endless strip from a cast ring as well as to the process pertaining thereto.

It is well known to roll out cast hollow bodies, especially uncut centrifugally cast rings, hot or cold in a rolling mill. In this case, the cast ring is rolled down in a single continuous and preferably controlled working process at the highest possible speed with simultaneous exercise of pull in a heat.

For this purpose, there is provided a rolling mill which is formed both downstream and upstream of the roll train with a loop drawgear. In the usual way, the rolling mill has at least one horizontally disposed pair of live rolls. The drawing carriages acting on the cast ring extend the strip loop, resulting from the rolling, by means of drawing rolls.

It is possible to regulate the drawing forces as a function of the actual gauge, temperature and tensile strength of the rolled stock. The rolled-out endless strip may be cut open by means of shears or the like after it has attained the desired final gauge, and be fed to a spool or the like.

The rolling down of the cast ring is usually effected in such a case by supporting the line rolls and drawing rolls horizontally. This requires that the cast ring must be inserted from the side into the rolling mill. For the insertion ofa ring in this case, the middle set of rolls has to be moved out laterally, in order to be moved back in again after the ring has been placed on a vertically and laterally displaceable centering device provided on the frame.

The arrangement in this case is such that the middle set of rolls is arranged to be displaceable by means ofa supporting set to one side in the horizontal direction from the interval between the two roll housings, while for the drawing rolls on the other side of the roll housings there are provided further housings which support extension rails and distance pieces which are moved in the horizontal direction by means ofa screw jack or the like.

With larger dimensions and weights of the cast ring, it is necessary to support the horizontally disposed strip bands by a plurality of backing rolls in order to prevent sagging of same. The annular-strip rolling mill requires a considerable amount of space in the direction transverse to the trackway of the drawing carriage which has the drawing rolls.

The space requirement for the rolling mill is considerable. Moreover, the insertion of the cast ring is complicated and time-consuming. Because of this the cast ring may cool down to a comparatively marked degree before the actual rolling operation begins.

lt is, therefore, essential to arrange heating chambers additionally about the formed strip loops. The preparatory work to make the rolling mill ready for the process is considerable. The rolling mill itself is expensive in construction.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide strip rolling mill for rolling out an endless strip from a cast ring which may be produced by casting on end, continuous casting or centrifugal casting.

Another object of this invention is to improve the rolling down of cast rings to annular strips in a rolltechnological respect and to simplify the construction of the annular-strip rolling mill.

The invention is characterized in that the cast ring is vertically on end while being rolled out to the strip. The live rolls and the drawing rolls with the pertaining brackets are disposed vertically on end and supported for this purpose. A support such as a roll table, spherical table or the like extending over the range of displacement of the drawing rolls is provided the ring or strip being rolled.

Due to the fact that the ring to be rolled down to a strip can be introduced vertically on end, that is from above the annular-strip rolling mill between the live rolls and over the drawing rolls of the drawing carriages, a substantial abbreviation of the setting-up time for making the annular-strip rolling mill ready can be achieved. No live roll needs to be removed from the housing of the rolling mill for the insertion of the cast ring.

The process of bringing in the live roll is completely dispensed with compared with an annular-strip rolling mill with horizontal disposition of the rolls. The live rolls can be started up immediately after insertion of the ring and the rolling down can begin. Though the small amount of time needed for insertion of the ring, achieved by a favorable constriction of the mounting of the upper roll bearing, the ring scarcely has the possibility of cooling down before the initiation of the rolling operation.

The heat loss of the ring is within very narrow limits and has practically no effect on the subsequent rolling. The working can commence at any desired speed. By the bilateral bearing of the live rolls on one and the same mounting of the rolling mill no transverse or coverover rod is in the way at the upper side of the machine, so that the space for insertion of the cast ring between the live rolls is constantly free.

The fixing of the vertically-on-end drawing rolls may be accomplished after the insertion of the ring from above into the rolling mill while the rolling-down operation has already begun. The rolling down of the upright ring or strip furthermore has the'advantage that sagging of the strip loop does not occur. The keeping taut of the strip loop by means of the drawing carriages or drawing rolls can be effected with less force than with a horizontally disposed strip. Additional backing rolls for the rolled-out strip are are unnecessary, so that because of this a further and additional cooling down of the strip loop is obviated.

Preferably the inner live roll with the locating frame is stationarily mounted, while the outer live roll is adjustable in the horizontal direction relative to the inner live roll and is adjustable in inclination. The live rolls and the drawing rolls are supported at both sides when larger strip widths are involved.

With smaller strip widths unilateral supporting of the live rolls and the drawing rolls is also possible. Because of this the insertion of the cast ring is even simpler. The locating frame for the outer live roll is preferably so formed, that it can be displaced as a sliding carriage on a stationary support frame.

The upper mounting of the outer live roll is provided adjustably in the horizontal direction on the locating frame. Due to the inclination of the live roll it is easy to achieve rectification of the difference in thickness over thestrip width. According to the rolling moment to be expected either both rolls or only one roll may be driven. One or more guide rollers may be arranged on the stationary frame which supports the live roll and at the side of the frame remote from the live roll.

To expose the drawing rolls for the insertion of the vertical-on-end cast ring into the rolling mill, the upper mounting for the drawing rolls is preferably arranged to be vertically movable and swivellable. To this end the drawing-carriage bracket containing the upper mounting for the drawing rolls can be elevated mechanically or hydraulically or the like, so that the bracket can be rotated about a guide pin. The .swinging-out of the upper arm of the bracket may be effected after elevation of same automatically by means of an inclined or curved chevron gear system.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation, partly in section taken along line II of FIG. 2, of an annular strip rolling mill according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the annular-strip rolling mill, partly in section taken along line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial and elevation taken along the line lII-lII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 represents schematically the drawing carriage for lifting the bracket for the release of the drawing roll; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a detail for the horizontal swinging of the lifted bracket.

Referring nowto the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 to 4, the annular-strip rolling mill 1 includes live rolls 2 and 3 and drawing rolls 4 and 5. The various rolls 2, 3, 4, and 5 are vertically disposed, so that a cast ring 6 can be inserted from above into the annular-strip rolling mill 1.

The inner live roll 3 is stationarily supported in a locating frame 7 which is fixedly mounted in the bedplate of the machine. The outer live roll 2 is supported above and below in a frame 8 which is in the form of a sliding carriage and can be displaced in the horizontal direction along guides 9.

The guides 9 are disposed on an arm 10 which is part of a stationary support frame 1 1. The adjustment of the outer live roll 2 relative to the stationarily mounted inner live roll 3 is effected by the horizontal displacement of the sliding carriage-like frame 8.

An upper bearing 8a for the outer live roll 2 can likewise be adjusted horizontally, in the direction of arrow 12. In this way, the outer live roll 2 can be given a predetermined inclination relative to the inner live roll 3 to compensate for a thickness difference over the width of the annular strip 6.

The adjustment is effected by means ofa spindle 13 on the free end of which is mounted a worm wheel 14 which cooperates with a worm 15 which can be driven from a geared motor 16. A motor 17 serves for driving the live rolls 2 and 3. The motor 17 also drives a shaft 19 by wayof agear unit 18, with a shaft 19 being supported at 20 and 21. I

On the shaft 19, there are mounted bevel gears 22 and ,23.which cooperate with bevel gears 24 and 25. These gears 24 and 25 respectively, with the live rolls 3 and 2..The bevel gear 23 can be displaced on the shaft 19 in the axial direction together with the frame 8. Each live roll 2 and 3 may also have a separate drive.

A supporting member 26 serves to support the cast ring or annular strip 6. The supporting member 26 may be in the form of a roll table, spherical table or the like and extends over the range of displacement of the drawing rolls 4 and 5. Guide rollers 27 for the ring 6 are stationarily mounted at the rear side of the locating frame 7. The live rolls 2 and 3 may be displaced by means of a spindle mechanically or hydraulically. to alter the roll gap. Moreover, the frame 8 is connected by means ofa rod 28 with a piston and cylinder unit 29.

There is provided for the strip loop, which results during the rolling out, a loop-drawing device which consists of drawing carriages 29 and 30. The drawing carriages are guided in guide rails -32 by means of wheels 31. There serves for displacement of the drawing carriage, for example, a drawing member 33 which is led around a roller 34 securely connected with the carriage.

The drawing carriages 29 and 30 have brackets 35 and 36 which maintain the support of the upper ends of the drawing rolls 5 and 4. The lower ends of the drawing rolls 5 and 4 are stationarily supported at all times on the carriages 30 and 29, respectively.

In order that the ring and the like to be rolled can grip in behind the drawing rolls 4 and 5 on being inserted into the rolling mill, the brackets are movably supported on the carriages 29 and 30.

Each bracket has a guide pin 37 which rests in a suitable bearing 38. Moreover, the guide pins are provided with looking lugs 39 through which the brackets 35 and 36 are secured in their position relative to the carriages 30 and 29, respectively.

The brackets 35 and 36 can be raised and lowered by means of a lifting cylinder device 40 which is located in the carriage, so that the support arms 35a and 360 can belifted from the drawing rolls 5 and 4. After that, the brackets 35 and 36 can be turned about the axes of the guide pins 37, so that the ring 6 to be reduced car be inserted from above without restriction about the drawing rolls 4 and 5.

In order that the brackets 35 and 36 can be swivelled automatically after they have been raised, an obliquely extending groove 41 may be provided at the periphery of the bearing bore 38 for the guide pin 37 from a.

predetermined level downwards, cams 42 of the guide pin 37 engaging in the groove.

In this manner. there results that, after the carriages have been thrust straight upwards, they are automatically swivelled by turning. On lowering of the carriages, they automatically turn back to the original position, until the bearing eyes of the arms 35a and 36a are located above the journals of the drawing rolls 5 and 4, whereupon a vertical lowering takes place until the brackets touch down on the carriages.

The operation of the drawing carriages may be conducted hydraulically, electrically or mechanically. The pull-to be exerted on the material to be reduced is adjustable.

To begin the rolling process, the drawing carriages 29 and 30 are moved with the drawing rolls 4 and 5 into the narrowest position. Moreover, the outer live roll 2 is drawn back so far relative to the inner live roll 3, that the ring to be rolled can be easily inserted from above. The ring 6 is inserted into the rolling mill by a suitable lifting appliance, with the brackets 35 and 36 of the drawing carriages being swing outwardly.

The ring comes to lie on the roll table 26, whereby further bearings can be provided as supports in the vicinity of the inner live roll 3.

Directly after the insertion of the ring, the outer live roll is engaged and the rolling down can begin. Furthermore, the brackets 35 and 36 are swung back and the upper bearings of the drawing rolls are gripped by means of the arms 36a and 35a.

The drawing carriages with the drawing rolls 4 and 5 are then moved outwardly and so hold fast laterally the ring which is becoming larger. As soon as the wall thickness of the ring permits, the circularity of the ring to be rolled is changed to an elliptical shape, this being brought about by the outwards movement of the drawing carriages.

The further extension of the endless strip on increasing rolling down thereof is taken up by the drawing carriages with the drawing rolls 4 and 5 and because of this two strip loops constantly increasing in size are drawn out. After the final thickness has been attained the endless band is cut and can be wound up or rolled. The drawing carriages are moved back into the starting position after the rolling process has ended.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. lt is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus for rolling down an endless strip from a cast ring, comprising, at least one pair of vertically positioned working rolls, a locating frame for stationarily supporting one of said rolls at its upper and lower ends during the roll operation, said frame and one roll lying inside of said cast ring during the rolling operation, a sliding carriage for supporting the other of said rolls at its upper and lower ends, guide means for said sliding carriage, said other roll and sliding carriage being radially displaceable on said guide means and lying outside of said cast ring during the rolling operation thereof and arranged to change the roll gap between said rolls when said cast ring is to be positioned for rolling thereof.

2. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus as recited in claim 1, and additionally bearing means for supporting said other roll at its upper end in said sliding carriage, said bearing means being adjustable in a horizontal direction.

3. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus as recited in claim 2, and means for synchroneously driving said rolls from their lower ends.

4. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus as recited in claim 3, and guide rollers for said cast ring, said guide rollers being stationarily mounted at the rear side of said locating frame.

5. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus as recited in claim 2, and vertically positioned drawing rolls for engaging said cast ring internally, a drawing carriage for each said drawing roll, and bracket means for connectlng each drawing carriage to its respectlve drawmg roll and arranged to be lifted and swivelled out of position of its respective drawing roll so that said cast ring can be positioned for rolling thereof.

6. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus as recited in claim 5, and means for supporting each bracket means in its respective drawing carriage, and means for locking each bracket means in position thereon.

7. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus as recited in claim 5, and means for mounting each said bracket means so that it can be lifted and swiveled out of position of its respective drawing roll. 

1. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus for rolling down an endless strip from a cast ring, comprising, at least one pair of vertically positioned working rolls, a locating frame for stationarily supporting one of said rolls at its upper and lower ends during the roll operation, said frame and one roll lying inside of said cast ring during the rolling operation, a sliding carriage for supporting the other of said rolls at its upper and lower ends, guide means for said sliding carriage, said other roll and sliding carriage being radially displaceable on said guide means and lying outside of said cast ring during the rolling operation thereof and arranged to change the roll gap between said rolls when said cast ring is to be positioned for rolling thereof.
 2. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus as recited in claim 1, and additionally bearing means for supporting said other roll at its upper end in said sliding carriage, said bearing means being adjustable in a horizontal direction.
 3. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus as recited in claim 2, and means for synchroneously driving said rolls from their lower ends.
 4. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus as recited in claim 3, and guide rollers for said cast ring, said guide rollers being stationarily mounted at the rear side of said locating frame.
 5. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus as recited in claim 2, and vertically positioned drawing rolls for engaging said cast ring internally, a drawing carriage for each said drawing roll, and bracket means for connecting each drawing carriage to its respective drawing roll and arranged to be lifted and swivelled out of position of its respective drawing roll so that said cast ring can be positioned for rolling thereof.
 6. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus as recited in claim 5, and means for supporting each bracket means in its respective drawing carriage, and means for locking each bracket means in position thereon.
 7. An annular-strip rolling mill apparatus as recited in claim 5, and means for mounting each said bracket means so that it can be lifted and swiveled out of position of its respective drawing roll. 